Work Relations || Aaron Hotchner

Chapter 53

A few months later...
We just got the debrief of the new case and the others left for the crime scene or interview the victims' families since the case is downtown. I'm not working outside the BAU, let alone travel for the last month which is better than nothing honestly.

I sat in the conference room, getting a closer look at the case files until the others return. But my eyes were closing because last night, I didn't get much sleep. I place my hand on my chin to support my head and I close my eyes for a second. "I told you to stay home and get some sleep" I hear Aaron and I open my eyes immediately
"I'm good. I'm awake" I say
"You should be home resting. You're only 3 weeks away from your due date" he says
"Exactly. In 3 weeks I'll be home. For now I'm just gonna work until my water breaks" I say and he shakes his head.

I put a hand on my back and I take a breath. "Are you ok?" he asks
"Yeah. She hasn't stopped moving since last night. Don't get me wrong, it's really good to feel her moving but... she started by kicking my ribs last night and now she moved on to my back. Doesn't she get tired?" I ask and he chuckles. He comes and sits next to me. He puts his hand on my lower back and starts massaging. There was an immediate pain relief.
"How does that feel?" he asks
"Really good" I say laying my head on his shoulder. He kisses my head and keeps massaging. "I love you" I say
"I love you too" he says and kisses my lips.

"I'm gonna start talking but you please keep doing that" I say
"Ok" he says
"So the first victim were found with their eyes open which makes sense since they died immediately. But, the ME's report for the third victim came in a few minutes ago and it also suggests that she died immediately. However, she was found with her eyes closed which made me a bit suspicious" I say showing him the crime scene photos
"So you're thinking remorse?" he asks
"Yeah. I already told the medical examiner to look for any traces of stranger's DNA on and around her eyelids. He will call me with the results within the next hour probably" I say
"Good, let me know when you get them" he says
"Ok" I say.

"I need to pee now" I say as I lift my head from his shoulder
"Ok" he says as he helps me stand up. "Do you need help walking?" he asks
"No, I'm good" I say as I start walking
"Are you sure?" he asks ironically as he sees me walking
"You should know very well that I still have my gun on me and permission to fire" I say and he smiles.

Later that day, the ME called so I leave the conference room to answer "Grey" I say picking up
"Agent Grey, this is Dr Davenport" he says
"Oh yes. Do you have the results?" I ask
"I do. Unfortunately there weren't any signs of DNA around the victim's eyes but there were traces of rubbing alcohol on her face and various places on her body" he says
"Would it be ok with if a couple of agents stop by somewhere in the next hour or two to have a look?" I ask as the pain on my back came back
"Of course. I will be expecting them" he says
"Thank you doctor" I say and I hung up.

I take a moment until the pain is gone and I walk back to the conference room. "The ME didn't find any DNA but found traces of rubbing alcohol allover her body" I say as I sit down
"Maybe he didn't just touched her eyes and wanted to 'clean up' those places" JJ says
"We should have a look" Hotch says
"He is expecting you there" I say
"Ok, Blake and I will head there. The rest keep working on victimology and the profile" he says.

About 5 minutes later, I felt the same pain in my back but this time it was sharper and my belly was like a rock.
Ok, that was definitely a contraction.
I try to call Aaron but he didn't pick up. I call him again but he hungs up on me this time. "I'm gonna kill him" I say to myself and I go to Penelope's office "Hey, can you track Hotch's phone?" I ask
"I can, why?" she asks
"Because he just hung up on me" I say
"Maybe he is still in the ME's" she says
"Maybe but I'm pretty sure I'm in labor" I say
"What? Really? Ok, ok" she says and starts typing. "He is still in the ME's office" she says
"Ok... My hospital bag is in his car so tell him to head to the hospital when you get a hold of him" I say
"Wait, wait, I'm coming with you" she says gathering her things quickly.

"You don't have to" I say
"I do. It's my work as a godmother to help you and the baby and I'm not taking no for an answer" she says
"Ok" I say and we leave.
"I will be calling Hotch, you don't worry about him" she says
"Ok. Tell him that I left my gun on his desk" I say
"I will. What are your contractions?" she asks
"1 minute long, 5 minutes apart. But I'm still 3 weeks away from my due date" I say
"Well, it might not matter now" she says excited.

My water broke as soon as we got to the hospital. Aaron finally answered his phone and is on his way here. "Hey, I'm here" Aaron says as he gets in the room
"If you hung up on me again--" I say
"I know, I'm sorry" he says and kisses me.
"You are 5 cm dilated already. 5 more to go. I'm monitoring everything so you shouldn't be worried. I'm gonna send the anesthesiologist to give you an epidural and I'll be back in an hour" the doctor says
"Thank you" we say and she leaves the room.

"She's coming" I say looking at Aaron
"Yes, she is" he says and kisses me "Are you ready?" he asks
"I don't know. I thought that this is some kind of a finish line but it's not. This is the starting line and there is no finish line" I say
"I know. But you're not alone in the race" he says stroking my head causing me to smile
"I love you" I say
"I love you too" he says.

After the epidural, I could still feel the contractions but I wasn't in pain anymore. It was a weird feeling to be honest. I was laying on my side. My eyes were closed and I was holding Aaron's hand. Aaron didn't let go of my hand for a second. Actually only when I needed ice chips. He was sitting next to my bed, as close to me as he could. Our foreheads were like glued together. I could hear his breathing change its rhythm every time I squeezed his hand a little harder, like he was in feeling the contraction too.

10 hours later, I had reached 8.5 cm which was pretty good since this is my first baby technically. Aaron's phone started ringing "It's Morgan" he says
"Pick up" I say and he nods
"Hey Morgan" he says as he answers and puts him on speaker
"Hey, we got him. Case is closed. How is Jessie?" he asks
"Good. She's right here" he says
"Hey!" I say
"Oh hi. How are you doing?" he asks
"8.5 cm!" I say
"You got this mama. We were thinking of coming tomorrow morning if that's ok" he says
"Of course. I'm guessing Penelope hasn't stopped talking about it" I say
"You know it" he says and I chuckle. "Anyway, I think I should leave you concentrate on giving birth now. I just called to let you know that we took care of the case" he says
"Thanks Morgan" Aaron says and hungs up.

"I'm hoping that you noticed that I haven't asked you about the case once" I say and he chuckles
"I did. But I was thinking that it might be because you were a bit distracted by being in labor" he says
"Look, feeling a head between your legs isn't the most comfortable feeling in the world so I was trying to think of something else" I say
"Ok, I don't know how to react to what I've just heard" he says causing me to chuckle.
"Just know that it's very uncomfortable. Ice chips?" I ask and he feeds me "Thank you my amazing husband" I say as I chew
"You are very welcome my amazing and beautiful wife" he says and kisses me.